MARGAO: In connection with the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding the discharge of sewage in Margao’s nullahs and the subsequent contamination of River Sal and Salpem lake in Navelim, the High Court (HC) came down heavily on the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) for its failure to address what steps are being initiated to address the pollution of fields in Salpem lake.
The HC bench comprising Justice M S Sonak and JusticeValmiki S A Menezes , issued directions to MMC to submit a progress report while fixing the next date of hearing on February 14, to enable time to the MMC to file this report.
In another major development, the village panchayat of Navelim was directed by the HC to be made respondents in the matter, given the Salpem fields lie in Navelim.
The hearing lasted for around 45 minutes.
The HC questioned the counsel for MMC as to why nothing regarding the Salpem fields pollution had figured in the affidavit MMC filed.
It was observed that the affidavit filed by the government had only spoken of sewerage connections given and areas where no sewerage line exists.
Reference was also made to the recently conducted inspection reports that had been submitted by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), which showed that sewage was still being discharged in six different places. It was pointed out that there was no mention of this in the affidavit either.
The HC then directed the GSPCB to conduct further tests of the sewage flowing into the nullah in context with the inspection report dated January 3, and submit those sample test reports before the next hearing.
Appearing in person, petitioner Antonio Alvares stated that the onus of treating sewage from the stormwater drain or nullah does not lie on the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), which is also located in Navelim.
Alvares pointed out that the STP is only supposed to take sewage from the sewerage network. He contended that the STP also took the sewage from the nullah from November to May. However, during the rainy season, he lamented that the sewage is released in the fields, when they are being cultivated. His assertions were substantiated by GSPCB’s inspection reports which included the functioning of the STP.
MMC’s counsel Adv Somnath Karpe submitted that the Water Resources Department (WRD) will undertake the task of clearing the gutters and nullahs, as per the decision taken in their meeting.
